Data Center Ceiling Systems

ABSTRACT

A data center ceiling system includes a data center ceiling system grid having a grid attachment frame, a plurality of acoustical ceiling panels carried by the grid attachment frame and an elongated hardware suspension slot in the grid attachment frame, the hardware suspension slot bordering at least a portion of each of the plurality of acoustical ceiling panels. At least one hardware suspension rod engages the hardware suspension slot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/463,029, filed Feb. 10, 2011 and entitled DATA CENTER CEILING SYSTEM, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to data centers for storage of computer systems and the like. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to multifunction ceiling systems which serve to isolate cold or hot zone containment while supporting or suspending cables, cable trays, mechanical systems, wiring, conduits, cold or hot zone containment barriers, security barricades and the like in a data center.

BACKGROUND

A data center is a facility which houses computer systems and associated components such as telecommunications and storage systems. Data centers may include redundant or backup power supplies for a computer system, redundant data communications connections and environmental controls including air conditioning and fire suppression systems. Data centers are frequently used to house servers in large numbers. Extensive hardware such as racks, conduits, cables, cable trays, elevated floors and the like may be necessary to store, organize and connect the functional components of a computer system in a data center. Because the storage, organizing and connecting hardware in a data center may consume a large volume of space, techniques to accommodate and organize the hardware in a manner which is as space-efficient as possible have been devised.

One of the challenges of arranging the racks, conduits, cables, cable trays and other hardware in a data center is organizing and supporting the hardware for deployment of electrical wiring to computer system components at the various locations where electrical connections are needed within the data center. Typically, these systems are suspended from the building structure or overhead intermediate steel. When a drop ceiling is utilized to isolate and contain zones or cooled air, that drop ceiling becomes a barrier to the accessibility and modification of the suspended utility systems. The ceilings of data centers may require a specialized design to effect routing of the supporting hardware for the electrical wiring in a manner which is both space-efficient and allows addition of components to the computer system and removal of components from the system without major overhaul of the data center.

Accordingly, data center ceiling systems which facilitate versatility by maintaining cool or hot zone isolation, while also allowing accessibility, organizing and supporting or suspending cable trays, mechanical systems, wiring, conduits and the like in a data center are needed.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is generally directed to a multifunction ceiling system which facilitates versatility by maintaining cool or hot zone isolation, while also allowing accessibility, it also organizes and supports or suspends cable trays, mechanical systems, wiring, conduits, cold or hot zone isolation or containment barriers and the like in a data center. An illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system includes a ceiling system grid including a grid attachment frame, a plurality of acoustical ceiling panels carried by the grid attachment frame and an elongated hardware suspension slot in the grid attachment frame, the hardware suspension slot bordering at least a portion of each of the plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; and at least one hardware suspension rod engaging the hardware suspension slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative floating attachment embodiment of the data center ceiling system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system, more particularly illustrating exemplary attachment of the data center ceiling system to a wall;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating exemplary attachment of an acoustical ceiling panel to a grid attachment frame of the data center ceiling system;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating exemplary attachment of a pair of acoustical ceiling panels to a grid attachment frame of the data center ceiling system;

FIG. 7A is a sectional view illustrating an exemplary wall section and attachment of the grid attachment frame of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system to the wall section;

FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the grid attachment frame of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system in a cable tray suspending configuration;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an illustrative fixed attachment embodiment of the data center ceiling system;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 10-10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side view, partially in section, of the illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system illustrated in FIG. 8, more particularly illustrating exemplary attachment of the data center ceiling system to a wall;

FIG. 12 is a side view, partially in section of the illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system illustrated in FIG. 1, attached to a wall (partially in section) and more particularly illustrating a cable tray assembly suspended from the data center ceiling system and wiring conduits (illustrated in phantom) supported by a cable tray of the cable tray assembly in exemplary application of the system;

FIG. 13 is a side view, partially in section of the illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system illustrated in FIG. 8, suspended from a ceiling and more particularly illustrating a cable tray assembly suspended from the data center ceiling system and wiring conduits (illustrated in phantom) supported by the cable tray of the cable tray assembly in exemplary application of the system;

FIG. 14 is a side view, partially in section of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system, attached to a ceiling (partially in section) and more particularly illustrating a cable tray supported by the data center ceiling system in exemplary application of the system;

FIG. 15 is a side view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system, attached to a ceiling (partially in section) and more particularly illustrating multiple levels of cable trays supported by the data center ceiling system in exemplary application of the system;

FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary bracket frame element of a cable tray support bracket;

FIG. 16 is a side view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system, attached to a ceiling (partially in section) and more particularly illustrating a security barricade assembly supported by the data center ceiling system in exemplary application of the system;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the grid attachment frame of an illustrative embodiment of the data center ceiling system, more particularly illustrating a pair of perforated corrugated acoustical ceiling panels attached to the grid attachment frame; and

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a perforated corrugated acoustical ceiling panel suitable for attachment to the grid attachment frame in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be hound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “upper”, “lower” and “beneath” as used herein are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not necessarily intended to be construed in a limiting sense.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-7B of the drawings, an illustrative floating attachment embodiment of the data center ceiling system is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The data center ceiling system 1 includes a data center ceiling system grid 2 the components of which may be extruded aluminum or other material. The ceiling system grid 2 may have a grid attachment frame 3. The grid attachment frame 3 may be generally “L”-shaped, with a first attachment frame member 4 and a second attachment frame member 4 a disposed in perpendicular relationship to the first attachment frame member 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the first attachment frame member 4 and the second attachment frame member 4 a of the grid attachment frame 3 may each include a frame member base 5; a pair of generally elongated, adjacent, parallel and spaced-apart frame member flanges 6 which extend from the frame member base 5; and an elongated grid suspension slot 7 defined by and between the frame member flanges 6. In some embodiments, flange threads 8 may be provided on the interior surfaces of the respective frame member flanges 6 in the grid suspension slot 7 for purposes which will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, a gasket 44 may be provided along the frame member base 5 of each of the first attachment frame member 4 and the second attachment frame member 4 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a corner frame member connector 12 may connect the second attachment frame member 4 a to the first attachment frame member 4 in the grid attachment frame 3. The corner frame member connector 12 may include a pair of connector arms 13 disposed at a perpendicular or 90-degree angle with respect to each other. The connector arms 13 of the corner frame member connector 12 may be attached to the corresponding first attachment frame member 4 or second attachment frame member 4 a of the grid attachment frame 3 according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, at least one connector fastener 14 may extend through at least one fastener opening (not illustrated) in each connector arm 13. Each connector fastener 14 may be threaded into the registering grid suspension slot 7 (FIG. 4) in the corresponding first attachment frame member 4 or second attachment frame member 4 a. An interiorly-threaded rod receptacle 18 may extend from the corner frame member connector 12 generally at the junction between the connector arms 13. The rodreceptacle 18 may be adapted to receive a threaded grid suspension rod 20 on which is threaded a turnbuckle 24. The purpose of the grid suspension rod 20 and the turnbuckle 24 will be hereinafter described.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, at least one generally elongated cross tee frame member 30 may extend from the first attachment frame member 4 of the grid attachment frame 3. The cross tee frame member 30 may be disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the first attachment frame member 4 and in generally parallel relationship to the second attachment frame member 4 a of the grid attachment frame 3. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in cross-section, the cross tee frame member 30 may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart cross tee base flanges 31. A pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side flanges 36 may extend from the respective cross tee base flanges 31 in generally perpendicular relationship thereto. An elongated flange connector 39 may connect the side flanges 36 to each other. An elongated grid suspension slot 37 may be defined by and between generally the middle and terminal portions of the side flanges 36 above the flange connector 39. An elongated, continuous, threaded hardware suspension slot 32 may be defined by and between the cross tee base flanges 31 and generally a base portion of the side flanges 36 beneath the flange connector 39. Continuous hardware suspension slot threads 33 may be provided on the interior surfaces of the hardware suspension slot 32. An elongated grid suspension slot 37 may be defined by and between the middle and upper portions of the side flanges 36. Flange threads 38 may be provided on the interior surfaces of the side flanges 36 in the grid suspension slot 37. In some embodiments, a gasket 44 may be provided along each cross tee base flange 31 of the cross tee frame member 30 generally parallel and adjacent to each corresponding side flange 36.

The cross tee frame member 30 may be attached to the first attachment frame member 4 of the grid attachment frame 3 according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a 3-way frame member connector 50 may attach the cross tee frame member 30 to the first attachment frame member 4. The 3-way frame member connector 50 may include a pair of end connector arms 51 disposed in generally 180-degree relationship to each other. A middle connector arm 52 may extend between and in generally perpendicular relationship to the end connector arms 51. At least one connector fastener 53 may attach each end connector arm 51 to the first attachment frame member 4 by extension of the connector fastener 53 through a fastener opening (not illustrated) in the end connector arm 51 and threading the connector fastener 53 into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 7 (FIG. 4) of the first attachment frame member 4. As illustrated in FIG. 2, at least one connector fastener 53 may also attach the middle connector arm 52 of the 3-way frame member connector 50 to the cross tee frame member 30. Accordingly, each connector fastener 53 may be extended through a corresponding fastener opening (not illustrated) in the middle connector arm 52 and threaded into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 37 between the side flanges 36 of the cross tee frame member 30. An interiorly-threaded rod receptacle 54 may extend from the 3-way frame member connector 50 at the junction between the end connector arms 51 and the middle connector arm 52. The rod receptacle 54 may be adapted to receive a threaded grid suspension rod 20 on which is threaded a turnbuckle 24, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the 3-way frame member connector 50 can be secured at any desired location along the length of the first attachment frame member 4 since the grid suspension slot 7 into which the connector fasteners 53 are threaded may be substantially continuous along the length of the first attachment frame member 4. In some embodiments, multiple cross tee frame members 30 may extend from the first attachment frame member 4 in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to each other.

At least one generally elongated main tee frame member 40 may intersect the cross tee frame member 30. The main tee frame member 40 may be disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the cross tee frame member 30 and the second attachment frame member 4 a and in generally parallel relationship to the first attachment frame member 4 of the grid attachment frame 3. The main tee frame member 40 may have a design which in cross-section is substantially the same as that of, the cross tee frame member 30, with a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart main tee base flanges 41; a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side flanges 46 extending from the respective main tee base flanges 41; a flange connector 45 connecting the side flanges 46; an elongated hardware suspension slot 42 defined by and between the main tee base flanges 41 beneath the flange connector 45; hardware suspension slot threads 43 (FIG. 7A) on the interior surfaces of the hardware suspension slot 42; an elongated grid suspension slot 47 defined by and between the side flanges 46 above the flange connector 45; and flange threads 48 provided on the interior surfaces of the side flanges 46 in the grid suspension slot 47. In some embodiments, multiple main tee frame members 40 may intersect each cross tee frame member 30 in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to each other.

The main tee frame member 40 may be attached to the cross tee frame member 30 of the data center ceiling system grid 2 according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a 4-way frame member connector 60 may attach the main tee frame member 40 to the cross tee frame member 30. The 4-way frame member connector 60 may include four connector arms 61 disposed in generally 90-degree relationship to each other. At least one connector fastener 62 may attach each of a first pair of the connector arms 61 to the cross tee frame member 30 and each of a second pair of the connector arms 61 to the main tee frame member 40 by extension of the connector fastener 62 through a fastener opening (not illustrated) in the corresponding connector arm 61 and threading the connector fastener 62 into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 37 (FIG. 5) of the cross tee frame member 30 or into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 47 of the main tee frame member 40. An interiorly-threaded rod receptacle 63 may extend from the 4-way frame member connector 60 at the junction between the connector arms 61. The rod receptacle 63 may be adapted to receive a threaded grid suspension rod 20 on which is threaded a turnbuckle 24, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the 4-way frame member connector 60 can be secured at any desired location along the length of the cross tee frame member 30 or the main tee frame member 40 due to the continuity of the grid suspension slot 37 along the cross tee frame member 30 and the continuity of the grid suspension slot 47 along the length of the main tee frame member 40.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, in some applications of the data center ceiling system 1, multiple main tee frame members 40 may be attached in end-to-end relationship to each other depending on the desired size of the data center ceiling system 1. Accordingly, a 2-way frame member connector 88 may include a pair of connector arms 89 which are oriented in 180-degree relationship to each other. The connector arms 89 of the 2-way frame member connector 88 may be attached to the respective main tee frame members 40 using multiple connector fasteners 90 in the same manner as was heretofore described with respect to the 4-way frame member connector 60. An interiorly-threaded rod receptacle 91 may be provided on the 2-way frame member connector 60 to receive a threaded grid suspension rod 20 having a turnbuckle 34. In a similar manner, multiple cross tee frame members 30 may be attached in end-to-end relationship to each other according to the desired length formed by the cross tee frame members 30. Multiple grid attachment frame members 4, 4 a may be attached to each other in similar manner to select the size of the grid attachment frame 3 depending on the size requirements of the ceiling system 1 for a particular application.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, in some embodiments, acoustical ceiling panels 56 may be mounted in the grid attachment frame 3 of the data center ceiling system grid 2. Each acoustical ceiling panel 56 may be perforated or non-perforated corrugated metal panels, perforated or non-perforated flat metal panels, honeycomb core, mineral tile and/or composite core blank panel, for example and without limitation. As illustrated in FIG. 6, an acoustical ceiling panel 56 may be attached to the first attachment frame member 4 and the second attachment frame member 4 a by securing at least one single panel hold-down clip 70 to the first attachment frame member 4 or second attachment frame member 4 a. Each single panel hold-down clip 70 may be generally Z-shaped in cross-section and include a fastener flange 71 having a fastener opening 72. A clip fastener 75 may be extended through the fastener opening 72 and threaded into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 7 of the corresponding first attachment frame member 4 or second attachment frame member 4 a. A clip body 73 may extend perpendicularly from the fastener flange 71. A panel flange 74 may extend perpendicularly outwardly from the clip body 73 in spaced-apart relationship to the frame member base 5. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the acoustical ceiling panel 56 may be inserted between the panel flange 74 of the single panel hold-down clip 70 and the frame member base 5 of the first attachment frame member 4 or second attachment frame member 4 a to attach the acoustical ceiling panel 56 to the first attachment frame member 4 or the second attachment frame member 4 a. When the acoustical ceiling panels 56 are installed in the grid attachment frame 3, the cross tee frame member 30 and the main tee frame member 40 extend along at least two edges of each acoustical ceiling panel 56.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an acoustical ceiling panel 56 may be attached to the cross tee frame member 30 of the data center ceiling system grid 2 by securing at least one double panel hold-clown clip 80 to the cross tee frame member 30. Each double panel hold-down clip 80 may include a clip body 81 having a fastener opening 82. A pair of panel flanges 83 may extend from opposite side edges of the clip body 81. A clip fastener 84 may be extended through the fastener opening 82 and threaded into the interiorly-threaded grid suspension slot 37 of the cross tee frame member 30. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a pair of acoustical ceiling panels 56 may be attached to opposite sides of the cross tee frame member 30 by inserting each acoustical ceiling panel 56 between the corresponding panel flange 83 of the double panel hold-down clip 80 and the gasket 44 on the cross tee base flange 31 of the cross tee frame member 30. A double panel hold-down clip 80 may be used to attach a pair of acoustical ceiling panels 56 to opposite sides of the main tee frame member 40 in a similar manner. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cross tee base flanges 31 of the cross tee frame member 30 and the main tee base flanges 41 of the main tee frame member 40 have the capability to support various types of lay-in panels depending on the desired application of the ceiling system 1.

Referring next to FIGS. 7B, 12 and 14 of the drawings, in exemplary application, the data center ceiling system 1 is installed in a data center 93 (FIG. 12) to maintain cool zone isolation as well as provide organization and support for hardware such as racks, conduits, cables, cable trays, elevated floors, cold or hot zone isolation or containment barriers and the like which may be necessary to route wiring and to store and connect the functional components of a computer system or the like in the data center 93. Accordingly, fixed perimeter installation of the data center ceiling system grid 2 generally beneath the ceiling 96 in the data center 93 may be accomplished by attachment of the grid attachment frame 3 to the walls 94 of the data center 93. Fasteners 34 may be extended through fastener openings (not illustrated) in the frame member flanges 6 of the grid attachment frame members 4, 4 a of the grid attachment frame 3 and through registering fastener openings (not illustrated) in the wall 94 of the data center 93. The data center ceiling system grid 2 may be additionally suspended from the ceiling 96 of the data center 93 by attachment of the threaded grid suspension rods 20 (FIG. 1) to the rod receptacles 18, 54, 63 and 91, respectively, and attachment of the turnbuckles 24 on the threaded grid suspension rods 20 to ceiling rails 99 (FIG. 14) on the ceiling 96 typically in the conventional manner. In some applications, the data center ceiling system grid 2 may only be suspended from the ceiling 96 of the data center 93 using the grid suspension rods 20, in which case the attachment frame members 4, 4 a may remain unattached to the walls 94 of the data center 93.

Various hardware such as wiring conduits 98 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 12) may be organized, routed and suspended from the data center ceiling system grid 2 of the data center ceiling system 1, typically beneath the ceiling 96, throughout or in a selected area or areas of the data center 93. As illustrated in FIG. 12, in some applications, a cable tray assembly 118 may be attached to the ceiling system grid 2 to support one or more cable trays 124 beneath the ceiling system grid 2. The cable tray assembly 118 may include multiple cable tray support brackets 122 which may be attached to each pair of hardware suspension rods 20 a at selected spaced-apart intervals to each other.

A cable tray 124 may be supported by the respective spaced-apart cable tray support brackets 122. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the hardware suspension rods 20 a which support the cable tray 124 may be threaded into the threaded hardware suspension slot 42 of the cross tee frame member 40 or the threaded hardware suspension slot 32 (FIG. 7) of the main tee frame member 30 of the ceiling system grid 2. One or multiple conduits 98 (FIG. 12) may be supported by the cable tray 124. Each conduit 98 may contain wiring (not illustrated) for the computer and other systems in the data center 93 extend through the conduits 98 and can be routed and deployed from the conduit 98 to the computer system or other component which is served by the wiring, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the data center ceiling system 1 is versatile and can be assembled in various sizes and placed at various locations throughout the data center 93 for organization, support, routing and deployment of wiring and the like from the wiring conduits 98 or other support hardware to the computer systems (not illustrated) and other components in the data center 93. Moreover, the design of the data center ceiling system 1 may eliminate the need to place openings for the wiring in the ceiling tiles (not illustrated) of the ceiling 96 for deployment of the wiring from the support and organizational hardware to the computer systems and components in the data center 93. The gaskets 44 (FIGS. 6 and 7) on the grid attachment frame 3 may maintain pressure differentials between hot and cold zones in the data center 93. The data center ceiling system 1 may facilitate integration of lighting and air distribution systems in the data center 93.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, in some applications of the system 1, the data center ceiling system grid 2 may support multiple cable trays 128 (one of which is illustrated) in a suspended manner at regular intervals to facilitate deployment of wiring 119 from one or more conduits 98 carried by the cable tray 128 to each of multiple servers 120 in the data center 93. The cable trays 128 may be attached to the data center ceiling system grid 2 at a selected spacing to achieve optimal proximity of each cable tray 128 from which the wiring 119 extends to the server 120. Each cable tray 128 may be attached to the data center ceiling system grid. 2 according to any suitable attachment technique which is known by those skilled in the art. In some applications, each cable tray 128 may be suspended from the data center ceiling system grid 2 by multiple hardware suspension rods 20 a (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 14). Each hardware suspension rod 20 a may be threaded into the hardware suspension slot 32 (FIG. 7) of a cross tee frame member 30 in the data center ceiling system grid 2 or into the hardware suspension slot 42 (FIG. 1) of a main tee frame member 40 in the data center ceiling system grid 2, as illustrated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conduits 98 and other hardware which is supported and organized by the system 1 can be easily accessed for maintenance, removal, organization or addition depending on the storage requirements of the data center 93.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, in some applications, the grid attachment frame 3 of the ceiling system grid 2 may be supported by a wall 66 in the data center 93. Accordingly, at least one wall insert 67 may protrude from the upper surface of the wall 66. The wall insert 67 is inserted in the hardware suspension slot 42 of the main tee frame member 40, as illustrated, or the hardware suspension slot 32 of the cross tee frame member 30. The cross tee base flanges 31 of the cross tee frame member 30 may rest on the upper surface of the wall 66.

Referring next to FIGS. 8-11 of the drawings, an illustrative fixed attachment embodiment of the data center ceiling system is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 a. The data center ceiling system 1 a includes a data center ceiling system grid 102 having a design which may be substantially similar to that of the data center ceiling system grid 2 of the data center ceiling system 1 heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 1-7. The grid attachment frame 103 in the data center ceiling system grid 102 of the data center ceiling system 1 a may include first attachment frame members 104 and second attachment frame members 104 a which may be disposed at a generally 90-degree angle with respect to each other and which may be connected to each other end-to-end to define the size of the grid attachment frame 103. A Corner frame member connector 12 may attach the second attachment frame member 104 a to the first attachment frame member 104 of the grid attachment frame 103. At least one cross tee frame member 30 may extend from the first attachment frame member 104 at a 3-way frame member connector 50. At least one main tee frame member 40 may extend from each cross tee frame member 30 at a 4-way frame member connector 60, as was heretofore described with respect to the data center ceiling system 1 in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the first attachment frame member 104 and the second attachment frame member 104 a of the grid attachment frame 103 may have a design which is similar to that of each of the cross tee frame member 30 and the main tee frame member 40. Accordingly, each of the first attachment frame member 104 and the second attachment frame member 104 a may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart frame member base flanges 105; a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart frame member flanges 108 extending from the respective frame member base flanges 105; a flange connector 111 extending between the frame member flanges 108; an elongated hardware suspension slot 106 defined by and between the frame member base flanges 105 beneath the flange connector 111; hardware suspension slot threads 107 on the interior surfaces of the hardware suspension slot 106; an elongated grid suspension slot 109 defined by and between the frame member flanges 108 above the flange connector 111; and flange threads 110 provided on the interior surfaces of the frame member flanges 108 in the grid suspension slot 109.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8, a generally L-shaped frame attachment flange 114 may be attached to the outer frame member base flange 105 of each of the first attachment frame member 104 and the second attachment frame member 104 a. The frame attachment flange 114 may facilitate attachment of the grid attachment frame 103 to a wall 94 of a data center 93 (FIG. 13), as will be hereinafter further described.

Referring next to FIG. 13 of the drawings, exemplary application of the data center ceiling system 1 a may be as was heretofore described with respect to the data center ceiling system 1 in FIG. 12. Accordingly, the grid attachment frame 103 of the data center ceiling system grid 102 may be attached to a wall 94 of the data center 93 by extending fasteners 34 through fastener openings (not illustrated) in the frame attachment flange 114 and threading the fasteners 34 through registering fastener openings (not illustrated) in the wall 94. The data center ceiling system grid 102 may additionally be suspended from the ceiling 96 by threading the threaded rods 20 into the respective rod receptacles 18, 54, 63 and 91 (FIG. 8) and attaching the turnbuckles 24 on the threaded rods 20 to ceiling rails 99 (FIG. 13) on the ceiling 96 according to techniques which are known by those skilled in the art. Cable tray assemblies 118 may be attached to the grid attachment frame 103 as was heretofore described with respect to FIG. 12. Various hardware such as wiring conduits 98 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 13) may be supported by or suspended from the data center ceiling system grid 102 of the data center ceiling system 1 a on the cable trays 124 of the cable tray assemblies 118, typically beneath the ceiling 96, throughout or in a selected area or areas of the data center 93. The data center ceiling system la may also be used as was heretofore described with respect to the data center ceiling system 1 in FIG. 14.

Referring next to FIGS. 15 and 15A of the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some applications multiple levels of cable tray assemblies 118 may be suspended from the grid attachment frame 3 depending on the desired capacity of the ceiling system 1 to facilitate organization, routing and support for hardware such as racks, conduits, cables, cable trays, elevated floors, cold or hot zone isolation or containment barriers and the like to route wiring and to store and connect the functional components of a computer system or the like in the data center 93. Accordingly, a first cable tray assembly 118 a is attached to the grid attachment frame 3. A cable tray 124 is supported by the first cable tray assembly 118 a. A second cable tray assembly 118 b is suspended from the first cable tray assembly 118 a. A cable tray 124 is supported by the second cable tray assembly 118 b. Additional cable tray assemblies 118 may be suspended from the second cable tray assembly 118 b and each other according to the required support capacity of the ceiling system 1.

As illustrated in HG. 15A, an exemplary cross-sectional configuration for the cable tray support bracket 122 of each cable tray assembly 118 is illustrated. Accordingly, the cable tray support bracket 122 may include a rod opening 123. Therefore, the first: cable tray assembly 118 a may be attached to the grid attachment frame 3 by extending the hardware suspension rod 20 a through the rod opening 123 and threading a nut 125 and securing a washer 125 against the cable tray support bracket 122. The second cable tray assembly 118 b may be attached to the first cable tray assembly 118 a by extending each hardware suspension rod 20 a through the rod opening 123 of each corresponding cable tray support bracket 122 and threading a nut 125 and securing a washer 125 against the cable tray support bracket 122. In similar manner, additional cable tray assemblies 118 may be attached to the second cable tray assembly 118 b as deemed necessary.

Referring next to FIG. 16 of the drawings, in some applications of the ceiling system 1, a security barricade assembly 130 may be attached to the grid attachment frame 3 of the ceiling system grid 2 for the purpose of partitioning one or more areas of the data center 93 as desired such as for security or cold or hot zone containment, for example and without limitation. Accordingly, the security barricade assembly 130 may include multiple security barricade panels 131 which are attached to the hardware suspension rods 20 a using an attachment technique which is suitable for the purpose. In some applications, each security barricade panel 131 may include a generally elongated, rectangular security barricade panel frame 131 a. A security barricade panel mesh 131 b may be provided in the security barricade panel frame 131 a. In some applications, the security barricade panels 131 may be attached to each hardware suspension rod 20 a by extending the hardware suspension rod 20 a through a rod opening (not illustrated) in the security barricade panel frame 131 a. A securing nut (not illustrated) may be threaded and tightened on the hardware suspension rod 20 a. In other applications, the security barricade panels 131 may be attached to the hardware suspension rods 20 a using clips, clamps and/or other suitable attachment techniques known by those skilled in the art. The adjacent security barricade panels 131 may be attached to each other using pins, clips, clamps and/or any suitable attachment or coupling technique which is known by those skilled in the art.

Referring next to FIGS. 17 and 18 of the drawings, in some embodiments, the ceiling system grid 2 may include perforated corrugated acoustical ceiling panels 144 which extend between the cross tee frame members 30 and the main tee frame members 40 of the grid attachment frame 3. Accordingly, the cross tee frame members 30 and main tee frame members 40 may both join adjacent acoustical ceiling panels 144 to each other and provide attachment points for suspension of the ceiling system 1 as was heretofore described. Each perforated corrugated acoustical ceiling panel 144 may be aluminum and, as illustrated in FIG. 18, may include multiple elongated, parallel panel troughs 145 and multiple elongated, parallel panel ridges 146 alternating with the panel troughs 145. Panel perforations (not illustrated) may extend through the panel troughs 145 and the panel ridges 146. In the deployed ceiling system 1, the panel perforations facilitate air ventilation between the areas above and below the ceiling system grid 2 and dampen noise in the data center 93. In other embodiments, the acoustical ceiling panels may be non-perforated corrugated metal panels, perforated or non-perforated flat metal panels, honeycomb core, mineral tile and/or composite core blank panel, for example and without limitation.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the data center ceiling systems facilitate energy conservation by reducing the amount of cold aisle space that requires cooling in a data center. The systems serve the dual purpose of both drop ceiling and support grid for overhead cable and other hardware distribution. The systems facilitate greater installation and routing flexibility of cable distribution systems. The completely accessible overhead suspension of the cable trays allows for simple distribution system expansion or upgrades. The system provides an attachment or suspension platform for cold or hot zone isolation or containment barriers, surface-mounted light fixtures, sprinkler heads and/or other utilities. The acoustical ceiling panels of the system provide for options that are cleaner and more permanent than conventional systems and may enable the use of metal acoustic panels for some applications. The system may enable superior acoustical performance up to NRC of 1.00 depending on the panel selection. Optional non-ferrous suspension components may eliminate zinc contamination and reduce radio frequency interference (RFI).

Referring again to FIGS. 1-7B of the drawings, it will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ceiling system 1 facilitates support of cable trays, walls, cold or hot zone isolation or containment barriers or other hardware by allowing the hardware suspension rods 20 a to be threaded from below into the threaded hardware suspension slot 32 of the cross tee frame member 30 and the threaded hardware suspension slot 42 of the main tee frame member 40. The hardware suspension slot 42 of the main tee frame member 40 and the hardware suspension slot 32 of the cross tee frame member 30 extend adjacent to the border of each acoustical ceiling panel 56. This expedient facilitates flexibility in support of the hardware in various configurations since the configuration or orientation of the hardware can be selectively changed without the need to replace or move the acoustical ceiling panels 56.

While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. A ceiling system, comprising: a ceiling system grid including: a grid attachment frame; a plurality of acoustical ceiling panels carried by said grid attachment frame; and an elongated hardware suspension slot in said grid attachment frame, said hardware suspension slot bordering at least a portion of each of said plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; and at least one hardware suspension rod engaging said hardware suspension slot.
 2. The ceiling system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of grid suspension rods and wherein said grid attachment frame is carried by said plurality of grid suspension rods.
 3. The ceiling system of claim 2 further comprising an elongated grid suspension slot in said grid attachment frame and wherein said plurality of grid suspension rods engages said grid suspension slot.
 4. The ceiling system of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of frame member connectors carried by said plurality of grid suspension rods, and wherein said grid attachment frame is carried by said plurality of frame member connectors.
 5. The ceiling system of claim 1 wherein said grid attachment frame comprises a first attachment frame member, a second attachment frame member carried by and disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to said first attachment frame member, at least one cross tee frame member carried by said first attachment frame member and at least one main tee frame member carried by said at least one cross tee frame member.
 6. The ceiling system of claim 5 further comprising a frame attachment flange carried by said first attachment frame member and said second attachment frame member of said grid attachment frame.
 7. The ceiling system of claim 1 further comprising at least one cable tray carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod.
 8. The ceiling system of claim 1 further comprising a security barricade assembly carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod.
 9. A ceiling system, comprising: a ceiling system grid including: a grid attachment frame having a first attachment frame member, a second attachment frame member carried by said first attachment frame member, at least one cross tee frame member carried by said first attachment frame member at least one main tee frame member carried by said at least one cross tee frame member; a plurality of acoustical ceiling panels carried by said grid attachment frame, said at least one cross tee frame member and said at least one main tee frame member extending along edges of each of said plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; and an elongated hardware suspension slot in each of said at least one cross tee frame member and said at least one main tee frame member, said hardware suspension slot bordering at least a portion of each of said plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; and a plurality of hardware suspension rods engaging said hardware suspension slot.
 10. The ceiling system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of grid suspension rods and wherein said grid attachment frame is carried by said plurality of grid suspension rods.
 11. The ceiling system of claim 10 further comprising an elongated grid suspension slot in said grid attachment frame and wherein said plurality of grid suspension rods engages said grid suspension slot.
 12. The ceiling system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of frame member connectors carried by said plurality of grid suspension rods, and wherein said grid attachment frame is carried by said plurality of frame member connectors.
 13. The ceiling system of claim 9 wherein each of said cross tee frame member and said main tee frame member comprises a pair of base flanges, a pair of side flanges extending from said pair of base flanges and a flange connector connecting said pair of side flanges, and wherein said hardware suspension slot and said grid suspension slot are disposed on opposite sides of said flange connector.
 14. The ceiling system of claim 9 further comprising a frame attachment flange carried by said first attachment frame member and said second attachment frame member of said grid attachment frame.
 15. The ceiling system of claim 1 further comprising at least one cable tray carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod.
 16. The ceiling system of claim 1 further comprising a security barricade assembly carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod.
 17. A ceiling system, comprising: a ceiling system grid including: a grid attachment frame having a first attachment frame member, a second attachment frame member carried by and disposed in perpendicular relationship to said first attachment frame member, at least one cross tee frame member carried by and disposed in perpendicular relationship to said first attachment frame member at least one main tee frame member carried by and disposed in perpendicular relationship to said at least one cross tee frame member; a plurality of acoustical ceiling panels carried by said grid attachment frame, said at least one cross tee frame member and said at least one main tee frame member extending along edges of each of said plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; an elongated grid suspension slot in each of said first attachment frame member, said second attachment frame member, said at least one cross tee frame member and said at least one main tee frame member; an elongated hardware suspension slot in each of said at least one cross tee frame member and said at least one main tee frame member, said hardware suspension slot bordering at least a portion of each of said plurality of acoustical ceiling panels; and a plurality of grid suspension rods engaging said grid suspension slot; and a plurality of hardware suspension rods engaging said hardware suspension slot.
 18. The ceiling system of claim 17 wherein each of said cross tee frame member and said main tee frame member comprises a pair of base flanges, a pair of side flanges extending from said pair of base flanges and a flange connector connecting said pair of side flanges, and wherein said hardware suspension slot and said grid suspension slot are disposed on opposite sides of said flange connector.
 19. The ceiling system of claim 17 further comprising at least one cable tray carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod.
 20. The ceiling system of claim 17 further comprising a security barricade assembly carried by said at least one hardware suspension rod. 